Rice is Nice!

There are many reasons why I love living in Katy, Texas.  We have all the benefits of suburbia- fantastic schools, shopping and entertainment.  We are convenient to all the benefits of urban Houston- museums, sports, zoo, hospitals, etc.  But Katy is still firmly rooted in the small, rural town it once was.  Once upon a time, Katy was a tiny stop on the Kansas/Texas railroad, surrounded by rice fields.   The first couple of weekends of October celebrate that past with Katy's Annual Rice Harvest Festival.  The festivities are kicked off with a simple, no-frills parade.  My kids loved it!

The parade isn't particularly special.  No marching bands, no elaborate floats, no real entertainment.  To a jaded parent, it's an hour long commercial.  The "floats" are cars and trucks festooned in advertisements for politicians, dog walkers, Scout troops, churches and private schools.  But to the kids . . . They saw police on motorcycles, firetrucks, retired soldiers (VFA), dogs, beads and candy, candy, CANDY!!!  Could there be a better way to spend a Saturday morning?

Lucy was a bunny that day.  A bunny who liked beads.

There's nothing better than watching your kids grub around the ground for free candy.  See the jeeps in the road?  That's the parade.  Like I said- simple and no-frills.

Randy didn't particularly like the sirens, but he handled it much better than in years past.  With hands pressed tightly on his ears, he still jumped up and down and did his best handless wave.

My kids show off their haul from an hour-long parade.  I guess we're ready for Halloween now! (Lucy still with a bunny face.)